Spark-gap



G. B. CROUSE. SPARK GAP.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE14, 1918. sggggQg' Patented Dee. (i9 )1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

G. B. CHOUSE. SPARK GAP.

APPLICATiON FILED JUNE14, 1918. 1939990@ j Patented Dec. 6, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

and means for "all ' l Application filed .Tune 14,

' of. From a more specific aspect, the inven- One of the tion relatesAto vibratory or buzzer sending apparatus capable of generatingoscillat'ons of radio frequency from a.' d. c. source w thout the use ofmotor-generator or other similar means.

. Radio transmitters have been proposed in which the closed or primaryoscillating circuit is connected across the vibratory gap, or make and'break contacts, of a buzzer excited from a suitable source. While my;invention embodies various features capable*Y of broad application, Ihave illustrated it in connection with the type of system abovementioned. A

principalobjects of the present invention isy to provide a novel form ofadjusting means for a fixedelectrode or electrodes of a spark gap.

Another object is to provide a vibratory gap, having a highquenchingaction. Other objectsand advantages will appear asftheinvention is hereinafter developed.

Referring to the. drawings which illustrate .what I nowconsider-.thepreferred fo'rms of my invention;

' igure-l is a'plan View of myV improved electro-magnetic make and breakdevice.

Fig. 2 -is a fragmentary elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a detail elevationof the vibratorv contact or electrode and its support.

fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional .detail view. of the fixed electrodes,taken on the line i l. Figs. 5 agiid 6 are respectively a plan andelevation of' a modification.

Fig. 7 1s a Wiring diagram illustrative of' one form of connectionsof myinvention.

Specification of Letters Patent.

GEORGE. B. Cnousn,

`With a layer of silver ll.

y Patented nec. e, 1192i. 191s. serial 319.239,913.

. Figs. 8, 10, l2 and 14 are diagrammatic plan views illustratingcertain modications inthe numbers and arrangement of the gap contacts orelectrodes.

Figs 9, 1l, 1 3 and l5 thel gaps illustrated diagrammatically in Figs.8, 10, I2 and 14respectively, and

Fig. 16 is an vation ofa vibratory1 block illust-rating how a pluralityof contacts or electrodes may be actuated by the block.

Referring to Figs. l to 4, it will'be seen that I haveshown mounted on aboard orl panel ing therethrough. The core 2 when magnetiaed, is adaptedto attract a block 4, preferably entirely of magnetic material exceptfor a layer of silver, which will hereinafter be more specificallyreferred to. The block 4 is carried by a resilient plate 5, secured at aplurality of points spaced from each other,

wbut substantially equidistant from the block.v

In the illustrated embodiment, this plate 5 is show n in the form of astrip of steel or other suitable resilient material anchored at oppositeends board 3, the block 4 being substantially in the center of thestrip.

While a single-fixed contact maybe employedpin conjunction with block 4to inake and break the circuit ofsolenoid l, I prefer to employ aplurality of fixed contacts adapted to be bridged by the blocks 4. ThusI an electro-magnet or soleare developments of enlarged sectional detailelel 3 and projectto blocks G, securedl to the have shown two contactsorelectrodes 7 and A 8 of brass, copper or other suitable electricalconducting material secured to a plate 9. These electrodes areinsulatedfrom each other and from plate 9 and are preferabl sector shaped incross-section. faces of the body portion of electrodes 7 and 8 may beemployed as 'the' arcing faces, I

prefer to. provide blocks of copper or other good heat conductingmaterial l0, faced vThe faces 11 are adapted to be engaged and bridgednormally by the upper face of the block or contact 4, which is' alsofaced with silver:

kIn order to adjust the faces 1l toward and Thile the y of these legs'elongation of thel spark away from contact 4, and to bring the plane ofsaid faces 11 into parallel relationship employed. The plate 9 .isconstructed of rei silieiit material and fixed at a plurality of points,preferably,equi-angularly spaced on the arc of a circle.r IThis may be.accomplished by securing the plate at 12, 13 and 14 to standards 15secured to the board 3. The plate 9 may be cut away to form legs 15, 16and 17. By exerting pressure on one or more between the points ofsuppprt 12, 13 and 14 and the center of the plate, the latter may beflexed and the faces 11 moved toward the block 4 or brought into aposition parallel to tlie arcing face oi the latter. For exerting suolipressures and for holding the ixed electrodes in adjusted positionlprovide a plurality of set screws 18, 19 and 20 mounted in a plate 21,secured to board 3 by means ot'standards 22. 'By turning all of said setscrews the sameamount and in the same direction the contacts orelectrodes Tf, 8 are moved bodily toward or away from the movableelectrode 4 and by adjusting one or two an amount different from that ofVthe other two or one the angle of the plane of the faces 11, withrespect to the plane of the arcing face of electrode 4, may be varied.Lock screws 23 may be provided to holdy the parts in adjusted position.

Numerous advantages are gained by employing a plurality of finedelectrodes and a bridging electrode instead of simply two electrodes,Thus it is not necessary to carry current through Spring 5, or by leadto the vibratory bloc-lr 4, either of which would interfere with properand uniform periodicity or' vibration ci the vibratory bloeit.Furthermore, as ciiicall pointed out, by employing a plurality of'Xedelectrodes 7, 8,' a plurality ci gaps in series are obtained, sothat for any given amplitude of vibration of the block 4, the totaleffective gap length greatly exceeds that which would be obtained'by theordinary maire and break contacts.'A Thus therate of may be made veryhigh without decreasing the frequency of vibration, so that a highlquenched effect is obtainable without sacri cing the advantages of ahigh note.

I wish to point out also that the quenching action of the gap 7, 4,8 isgreatly enhanced by virtue of the silver arcing faces Iand by virtue ofthe fact that the contact blocks or electrodes are of comparativelylarge size,A

and therefore dissipate the heat rapidly. Radiating fins 24, 25 and 26may be provided on the electrodes 7, 8 and 4, respectively to increasethe heat dissipating surface. It will also be noted that as the entireblock 4, with the exception of its relatively thin silver arcin facecharge directly across these electrodes;

one fixed and the other movable.-

means of a iiexiola will be hereinafter more speis of magneticmaterial,4a considerable part of the flux due to solenoid 1, will traverse thegap so that the magnetic blow-out or quenching action of the latter isof a high degree. j

l ln view'of theoregoing description and calling attention to Fig. T,the operation of m invention will be readily understood. rl`he solenoid1 is connected in series with electrodes 7, 8 and key 31 across d. c. ora. c.

, mains 30. The closed oscillating circuit comprises, in series, theelectrodes a8, capacity 32 and the primaryy 33 of an oscillationtransformer. While a direct or auto-.transformer coupliii may beemployed, I have illustrated an inductive coupling between the closed orprimary oscillating circuit and the openor aerial circuit. Thus theoscillation transformer comprises a secondary 34 connected in theantenna circuit. Normally,

the electrode 4 engages and bridges electrodes' and 8, so that when thekey 31 is closed, the solenoid 1 isenergized to cause the electrode 4 tobe attracted by the core 2. .d spark forms, 7 to 4 and 4 to S, trodes?and 8, being sufficient to prei/rempli??- condenser is charged to a highvoltage duc to the inductance of the generating circuit '31, 7, 8, 1 anddischarges across the gap, thus producing oscillating currents in theclosed oscillating circuit, which are transterrcd to the antenna circuitbroken, the spring 5 restores the parts to ncrinal position, so that theabove Vcycle will be" 4', 5, 7 and 8' correspond to the elements 1,

2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 in the previous figures. The member 2', which is otmagnetic material, is of such shape as to provide, ,in conjunctionwithsolenoid 1, an electro-magnet of they iron clad type. A cover plate40 of magnetic material is secured to member 2 andl'provided with acentral opening 41 to accommo date the gap and with openings 42, throughwhich the strip 5 extends. It will be undern -stood that therepresentation oi elements 4',

7 and 8 is somewhat diagrammatic and that these elements may assume theform of ele ments 4, 7 and 8.

By virtue oi" the structure last described, it will be seen that therewill be a considerdue to opening ci' the gap, 'from the distance betweenelec?,

and radiated. Ubvin i -ously, when the spark across they gap is icc Lire

lili

izo

.that I have illustrated contacts or electrodes 51 and 52 and a ablefiux density through the gap giving an extremely high quenching action.

In the rabove description I have pointed out some of the advantages of aplurality of gaps in series and have described a form of inventioninwhich two gaps in series are obtained. This number of gaps in series maybe increased as illustrated diagrammatically in Flgs. 8 to l5 or inanequivalent manner. i

' Calling attention to Fig. 8 it will be seen a plurality of fixedplurality of vibratory contacts 53, 54. The former may be mounted in thesame manner that' contacts 7 and 8 are mounted in Fig. 4, andthe lattermay be mounted as shown in Fig. 16. The contacts or elec-I trodes 53, 54are carried by the resilient members or strip-5 and while one, 54, is inelectrical contact with said strip the other, 53, is insulatedtherefrom, The member55, to "which theelectrodes 53, 54 are secured, isof magnetic material as are `also the electrodes 53, 54, except forthelayer of silver provided on the arcing faces of the latter. The normalposition' of the parts in this formv of gap may be visualized byassuming that the contacts 51, 52 are superimposed on and incontact withthe contacts 53, 54. Ifcurrent is introduced at electrode 51 it will fiow downwardly into electrode 53, through the latter, upwardlyintoelectrode 52, through the latter, downwardly i'nto electrode 54 andout. When the armature 55 is attracted the electrodes 53 and 54 will bemoved outLof engagement with electrodes 51, 52 and three gaps in serieswill be formed as indicated in Fig. 9.

Four gaps in series may be obtained by employing the .arrangementillustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 in which current is intro I duced at thefixed electrode '61, 'Hows down- Wardly into and through vibratoryelectrode electrodes .7 and 8.

64, upwardly and through fixed electrode 62, downwardly and throughvibratory elec-- trode 65, upwardly to fixed electrode 63 and out.Obviously when the gap opens four gaps in series are obtained asindicated in Fig. 13.- Five gaps in series may be obtained by means ofthe arrangement illustrated in Figs. 14 and l5 and six by means of thearrangement shown in Figs. 10 and 11, More gaps in series may be otained by carrying forward' the idea `of means herein illustrated.

If it is desired to employ anyv of the gaps illustrated in Figs. 8 to 15instead of the two gap type illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, theelectrodesvl and 54, or 161 and 63, or 7,1 and76, or 81 and 84 may beconnected to the system' illustrated in Fig. 7 instead ofv It will benoted that when .an arrangement is employed in which an even number ofgaps is obtained the con- .l/ishe'd with. this ducting leadsare'connected to fixed electrodes. In this case the electrodes carriedby strip 5 may each be insulated from-each other and from the strip.

vVith an odd number of gaps, however, one of the electrodes carried bysaid strip 5. acts as a terminalelectrode as illustrated at 54 and 76.Connection may be estabelectrode by -mounting it in electrical contact.with strip 5 to which the lead or conducting wire may be connected.

In accordance with the provisions of the patentstatutes, I have hereindescribed the principle of operation of my invention, together with theapparatus, which I now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof, but I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown isonly illustrative means.- Also, 'while `it is designed to use thevarious features and elements in the combination and relationsdescribed, some of these may be altered and others omitted withoutinterfering with the more general results outlined, and the inventionextends to such use. I

Having described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. A spa-rk gap for radio transmission, comprising a vibratory electrodesubstantially entirely of magnetic material, .electro- 4ma netic meansfor vibrating said electrode and a plurality of insulated electrodesnormally bridged by said vibratory electrode.

2. A spark gap for radio transmission, comprising av vibratory electrodesubstantially'entirely of magneticmaterial, electromagnet-ic means forvibrating said electrode,

a plurality of insulated electrodes normally bridged by said vibratoryelectrode and radiating fins on said electrodes.

3.- A spark gap for radio transmission,

comprising a vibratory electrode, substan-A tially entirely of magneticmaterial, electromagnetic means for vibrating said. electrode, aplurality of insulating" electrodes, normally bridged by said vibratoryelectrode, a layer of silver on the arcing faces of said electrodes andradiating fins on said electrodes.

4. A spark gap for radio transmission comprising a plurality ofelectrodes, a plate supporting at least one of said electrodes and meansfor flexing said plate about at least two. axes.

5. A spark gap for radio transmission comprising a plurality ofelectrodes, a plate supported at a plurality of spaced points andcarrying at least one of said electrodes and means for exerting pressureon said plate at a. plurality of spaced points.

6. A spark gap for radio transmission comprising a plurality ofelectrodes, aplate supporting one of said eleetrodee, means 'forsupportingsaid plate at at leiisttlnee spaced 4points and adjustablemeans for exerting pressure on said plate between the points of supportthereof and the electrode supported by said plate.

7. A spark gap comprising :L plurality of fixed electrodes, one of whichis a terminal electrode and at least one other a bridging electrode, anda plurality of vibrant/Ory eleo- 10 trodes, one of which is abiiclging-electrode. 8, A spark gap comprising a plurality of fixedelectrodes, two of which are terminal electrodes, and a plurality ofVibratory bridging electrodes.

In testimony whereof I have alixed my signature.

`y GEORGE B. GROUSE.

